A/N If you did't catch the rewrite of the previous chapter about Mr Collins, please flip back and have a re-read, and please let me know what you think! :)

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I can see a lot of readers can't understand why Mrs Bennet is desperate for her daughters to marry. I guess I am old. I remember when marriage was simply the expectation and every woman "needed" a man to look after her. I know it all sounds so odd in this modern era, but, trust me, its definitely a Thing from the olden days (of 1970 and back). I'm not disagreeing that Mrs Bennet was taking it to the extreme in the first version of the previous chapter! I actually love it when Mrs Bennet is ridiculous - not so much when she is written as evilly cruel :(

I'm trying to think of comparisons to modern times… Imagine someone who still lives with their parents, well into their adult years, who doesn't work. If they are trying but failing to find work, most people would pity them; if they aren't trying to find work, most people would have contempt for them.

Marriage for a gently born woman was much the same: being married gave her status, and a freedom she would not have while a spinster at home, the same as the independent income of employment gives modern people freedom. Failing to receive an offer of marriage made her either pitiable or contemptible. Neither is good!

So, when you think "the sisters can stay at Longbourn, they don't need to marry", think "George can just live with his parents, he doesn't need to work". Its a similar situation.

(Took me ages to figure that out so it would make sense to someone else!)

Yes, I had Mrs Bennet taking it too far with Jane and Mr Collins (but it was funny! :-P ), but even without the worry of the entail, Mrs Bennet is acting within the social norms of the time - if her daughters don't marry they will suffer a lot of social stigma and disdain. To marry allowed a woman agency and let her have some say over her life (yes the worst of marriages would have been a different matter, but thats not what we're talking about). Staying on in one's sibling's home (generally a brother) meant a woman was seen as a "burden" on the household and was not doing her duty - do a web search for "ape leader" to get the picture, but prepare to be horrified if you do :(

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Thank you for reading - now let's see what happens next!

Chapter 12 - The Ball

1811

The following day, Mr Bingley and his sisters arrived at Longbourn for a morning call. They were there to give their personal invitation for a ball at Netherfield, to be held the following Tuesday. The Netherfield ladies gave their greetings to Jane, said it had been an age since they had seen her and did their best to ignore the rest of the room. They did not stay long, their brother seemed surprised with the rapidity with which they rose to leave the manor. As the two ladies left the room, Bingley stepped up to Jane, bowed, and said "Miss Bennet, may I have the honour of the first dance of the evening for my ball?" Jane smiled up at him. "You certainly may, sir" she replied. He then followed his sisters out.

There was much excitement about the ball from the ladies of the house. Lydia begged that she might please come out early, but no one would give her permission. All she achieved was a stern look from Mrs Piper who suggested it was time the two sisters got back to their lessons. Mary seemed quite pleased at the idea of a ball. Elizabeth was able to look forward to another pleasant event and hoped to be able to avoid sitting out a dance and not coming to Mr Darcy's attention. She had managed to deliver snide comments to him most times they had met, but really, she would rather just avoid him completely until he left the area. Jane was the quietest about the ball. She had dreamy thoughts about dancing with a handsome, charming man.

Elizabeth asked Mr Collins whether he could accept the invitation as a member of the clergy and was surprised to find he would indeed and was intending to ask all his cousins to dance. "Miss Elizabeth would you do me the honour of the second dance?" upon her slow, and she hoped unobviously, disappointed curtsey of acceptance he continued, "and Miss Mary, may we let bygones be bygones and I ask you for the third?" Mary nodded tranquilly "and Miss Bennet, would you dance the fourth with me?" Jane, ever serene, answered that she would be happy to. At that Mr Collins looked a little shifty and asked the ladies "do you think all the families surrounding will be invited to the ball?" "Oh, certainly," replied Mrs Bennet, "I believe Mr Bingley even mentioned that he was inviting all the families" "Ah, interesting," continued Mr Collins, "I think I may go for a walk, if I may be excused" and with that he bowed and took his leave.

It was well that Mr Collins got his walk in that day, because the next four days until the ball were nothing but heavy rain. The ladies were able to maintain their activities of practice at their accomplishments to make the time pass, but Mr Bennet was most frustrated at not being able to get Mr Collins out of his library.

~~ HoL ~~

Jane woke the morning of the ball to a beautiful sunny day - the rain had passed. She looked out the window at the freshly washed world and had a strong feeling that it was going to be a wonderful evening. In the afternoon she and her sisters readied themselves for the ball and eventually the time came for them to leave. The six adults of the family, including their cousin, cramming into the carriage, all doing their best not to crush the ladies' dresses.

When the carriage arrived at Netherfield, Jane was stunned at the opulence that Miss Bingley had managed. It started from the moment she stepped out of the carriage - a carpet had been run down the steps and onto the drive, that the ladies' gowns need not be ruined by the mud from the recent rain. Jane looked up to the house and saw a fairy land of candles and lanterns. She smiled as she walked towards the house on her cousin's arm. As they approached the receiving line, she saw Mr Bingley greeting his guests. When she reached the head of the line he reached out and took her free hand and bowed over it. "Miss Bennet, you are very welcome." he said and smiled into her eyes, and then realised he was ignoring Jane's escort "And you too, Mr Collins" he added with a bow. Jane curtsied and smiled at him. "I will join you when I have finished greeting my guests" he responded, smiling back at her. Jane curtsied again, pleased he was acting properly as a host. She proceeded through to the ballroom. Mr Collins bowed to her "May I leave you until our agreed fourth dance, Miss Bennet?" he asked. Jane nodded and smiled. He walked away and she was pleased to see he had quickly found Charlotte in the crowd and was bowing to her. She walked around the ballroom admiring the clever decorations that were to the credit of Miss Bingley. Several gentlemen bowed to her and asked her for a dance, she smiled and nodded and let them write on her card.

The crowd grew thicker before she felt a hand on her elbow. "Miss Bennet" she heard Mr Bingley whisper in her ear, and she turned to him and smiled, "Mr Bingley" she replied, modestly looking down. "Shall we dance?" he asked. She heard the first strains of the musicians tuning up and they took their places at the top of the line for the dance, to open the ball. It was a beautiful dance and it felt just like her very first ball - she felt she was floating as they danced. "I wish I could dance every dance this evening with you," said Mr Bingley. "Mr Bingley!" she had a shocked tone, but knew he saw the amused look in her eye. "That would be most improper, sir!". He laughed. The song ended and he took her hand to lead her to fetch a glass of punch, unwilling to let her go until he had to. "May I have the supper set with you?" he asked. "Yes, Mr Bingley, you may" Jane smilingly replied. The partner for her next dance came to meet her, and Mr Bingley bowed to her with a sad look on his face and left to find his next partner.

Jane enjoyed the dances, although she too would have liked to dance them all with one particular gentleman. While dancing the third with Mr Goulding, she noticed Elizabeth dancing with Darcy. She wondered how that had come about! Neither of them looked particularly happy. She danced the fourth with her cousin Mr Collins, as promised. This was a difficult dance for her as Mr. Collins, awkward and solemn, apologizing instead of attending, and often moving wrong without being aware of it did not make it very pleasant. Jane was too kind to complain and bore her misery well. However, while she danced the fifth with Mr Hemming, she saw Charlotte and Mr Collins come in from the balcony, he bowed over Charlotte's hand and then go to approach Sir William. It was clearly a busy ball! But presently the supper set came around and once again Mr Bingley was bowing over her hand. They joined the other dancers on the floor, and once again it was just magic. Jane felt she had never been to a more delightful ball. Whenever the dance brought them together, neither of them could take their eyes off each other. Her face was as serene as ever, but for the gentleman standing opposite her the gleam in her eye was quite clear. The music eventually ended, and they walked arm in arm to the tables. Supper was lovely. Jane and Mr Bingley were seated some distance from the rest of her family, which Jane did not mind at all - she had no desire to be distracted for the few hours of the ball she could spend with the young man.

When supper was over, Sir William stood from his place at the table, and every eye was turned towards him. "If I could have your attention, please, everyone", he paused while he waited for the hubbub to die down and someone helpfully tinged their wine glass with a spoon to draw everyone's attention. When the noise had died sufficiently Sir William continued, "It is my great pleasure to have the delightful duty of making a most excellent announcement, for which I am sure I shall have all of your congratulations." A small murmur went up, and Jane smiled in anticipation of what was to come. "I am very happy to announce that Mr Collins, who is a cousin of the Bennet family of Longbourn and currently visiting from his parish in Kent, has asked my daughter Charlotte for her hand in marriage, and she has agreed." He looked left and right with a large smile on his face, "We will be having a wedding!" Everyone broke out in applause and many cries of "Congratulations" and "Hear hear!" were heard. Sir William stood, smiling and bowing to all around for quite some time.

The party had just moved on to the young ladies starting to exhibit when Mr Bingley took Jane's hand and said, "come get some fresh air on the balcony with me". Jane smiled and willingly went with him. They reached the balcony and were alone, although the door was open, and they were in clear sight of the main room. Mr Bingley turned and took her hand. "Miss Bennet", he said, "I know we have only known each other for a few short weeks, but I need you to know…" She looked up at him with wide open eyes, and he continued "… that I must go to town for a few days for some very important business. Very important. But when I come back, I will have a question I wish to ask you. Would you allow me to call on you when I return?" Jane smiled at him, blinked in thought and then said "Yes, Mr Bingley, you may. But there is something I must tell you first…"

~~ HoL ~~

When they came back in from the balcony, Mary was exhibiting. It was a charming performance - Mary was now very accomplished in sitting at the pianoforte. Jane once again gave thanks to G_d that Mrs Piper had come to them. Jane knew she should take her turn too. Her harp had been delivered earlier in the day and she went to see a footman about bringing it out. Mary finished her piece and Jane took her place, playing her best piece. Applause was heard when she finished, as for all the young ladies, although Mr Bingley did seem to applaud rather more loudly than he did for the other players. After the young ladies had finished exhibiting, the dancing began again. Jane could not dance with Mr Bingley a third time as they were not engaged, but she was content to dance the rest of the dances with other gentlemen.

Eventually, the evening came to an end. The Longbourn party were the last of all the company to depart; and by a manœuvre of Mrs. Bennet had to wait for their carriage a quarter of an hour after everybody else was gone. Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst seemed tired, but Mr Bingley was still full of energy - he and Jane were standing together a little detached from the rest, and talked only to each other. "Remember," he said to her, "I am for London tomorrow, but I will return in but a few days. It is important business that takes me there. Important!" She smiled at him "I remember. I look forward to your return", she replied. With that their carriage arrived and the family went home.

A/N is that a cliffy? I think thats a cliffy - sorry! But the end of the ball made it a natural stopping point. Not a long wait, I have the next chapter written!